Department for Transport

Railways: Sutton

Elliot Colburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) Network Rail, (b) Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), (c) Transport for London (TfL) and (d) the London Borough of Sutton about re-instating a dual track between Sutton and Belmont stations.

Wendy Morton: Officials in my Department contributed to the assessment of a Levelling Up Fund bid from the London Borough of Sutton in 2021, which sought funding to develop a proposal to re-instate double-tracking between Belmont and Sutton stations. This bid was ultimately unsuccessful, and feedback was provided to the London Borough of Sutton. Officials from my Department have recently agreed to meet with the London Borough of Sutton to discuss these proposals further.

Electric Vehicles: Charging Points

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to encourage major retailers to provide vehicle charging points; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring stores over a certain size to include a number of charging points for electric vehicles.

Trudy Harrison: Government has committed £2.5 billion since 2020 to support the transition to zero emission vehicles, with funding to offset their higher upfront cost, and to accelerate the rollout of chargepoint infrastructure. Of the £2.5 billion of Government funding committed to the EV transition since 2020, over £1.6 billion will be used to support charging infrastructure. On 15 December 2021, Government laid regulations for England which require minimum charging infrastructure in new and majorly renovated non-residential buildings with car parks which have more than ten spaces, such as shops and workplaces. These measures will see charging infrastructure being installed in up to 2,600 car parks in England every year. In addition, the Future of Transport Regulatory Review, which closed on 22nd November, sought views on the government seeking powers to require a minimum level of EV charging infrastructure in existing non-residential car parks and new standalone plot car parks. The consultation is currently being analysed and the government will publish its response in summer 2022.

Driving Tests

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing two factor authentication for the booking of driving tests.

Trudy Harrison: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is committed to ensuring its driving test booking system is the safest and fairest way to book a driving test. A two factor authentication for the booking of driving tests is not currently part of the requirement to access the booking system; however, the DVSA is modernising its systems and exploring options to strengthen its booking process.

Taxis: Greater London

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 May 2022 to Question 796, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the licensing authority, Transport for London, is enforcing compliance in the context of unlicensed private hire vehicles continuing to operate in London as a result of regulation 9(14), issued by Transport for London following the Divisional Court’s judgment in December 2021, lacking enforcement power.

Trudy Harrison: Private hire vehicle (PHV) legislation in London requires London PHV operator licence holders to comply with conditions attached to their licence, such as that set by regulation 9(14) of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) (Operators' Licences) Regulations 2000, as amended. If a London PHV operator licence holder fails to comply with a condition of their licence the legislation provides that the licensing authority, Transport for London, can suspend or revoke the licence.

Driving Licences: Italy

Anthony Mangnall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what further discussions he plans in 2022 with his Italian counterpart to help ensure that UK citizens, resident in Italy before the end of 2020, will be able to exchange their UK driving licences for those of Italy without the need to take an Italian driving test.

Trudy Harrison: The Government remains committed to securing an agreement for UK licence holders resident in Italy, to exchange their UK driving licences for those of Italy without the need to take an Italian driving test. The UK already has similar arrangements in place with 24 other EU countries. Department for Transport officials will continue to negotiate exchange arrangements for UK licence holders resident in Italy as a matter of priority. While those discussions are ongoing, UK licence holders can continue to use their UK licence until 31 December 2022, or for 12 months from becoming a resident in Italy, whichever is later.

Freeport East

Tom Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Freeport East on demand for rail freight transport in the East of England.

Trudy Harrison: As part of Freeport bidding and business case process, consideration has been given to existing transport capabilities and capacity. Freeport East benefits from good existing road and rail freight links. Significant investment has enabled freight trains to operate into the port each day and means it is the UK’s busiest and best rail connected port. Freeports are in the initial stages of set-up and exact details of future growth and potential demand are not clear, and so no specific demand assessments have been made.

Driving Licences: Italy

Anthony Mangnall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with his Italian counterpart on helping to ensure that UK citizens, resident in Italy before the end of 2020, can exchange their UK driving licences for those of Italy without the requirement to take an Italian driving test.

Trudy Harrison: The Government remains committed to securing an agreement for UK licence holders resident in Italy, to exchange their UK driving licences for those of Italy without the need to take an Italian driving test. The UK already has similar arrangements in place with 24 other EU countries. Government officials have engaged frequently in discussions with Italy on the terms and nature of arrangements for UK licence holders resident in Italy since the UK’s exit from the EU. While those discussions are ongoing, UK licence holders can continue to use their UK licence until 31 December 2022, or for 12 months from becoming a resident in Italy, whichever is later.

Bus Services

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking with local transport authorities to ensure the provision of a sheltered area at each bus stop in the UK.

Trudy Harrison: Local authorities in England are responsible for the bus stops and shelters in their area. The Government’s National Bus Strategy for England asked Local Transport Authorities to consider the impact of roadside infrastructure on passenger safety, security and accessibility in their Bus Service Improvement Plans. These plans were subject to a detailed assessment and thirty-one counties, city regions and unitary authorities have subsequently been selected to receive a share of funding to level up their local bus services, drawing on the £1.2 billion announced at last year’s Spending Review, as part of the £3 billion we have promised for buses over this Parliament. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland transport policy is the responsibility of the devolved administrations and scrutiny the responsibility of the respective parliaments and assembly.

Great British Railways: Location

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is Department's policy that the short list for the Great British Railways competition will be announced and there will be a Ministerial visit and public vote in May 2022; and if he will publish any updates to that timetable.

Wendy Morton: The Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) has assessed the 42 expression of interest applications received and a shortlist will be an announced shortly. This will be followed by an online consultative vote and Ministerial visits to the shortlisted locations.More information on the timetable for the competition is available on the GBRTT website at the following link.gbrtt.co.uk/hq/

Great British Railways: Location

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the matrix used to assess bids when he publishes the shortlist for Great British Railways; and if he will provide feedback to successful applicants on the merits of their application.

Wendy Morton: Applications for the Great British Railways (GBR) HQ bid were assessed against the six selection criteria that were published on the GBR Transition Team’s website. They are:Alignment to Levelling Up principlesBeing connected and easy to get toRepresenting good value for moneyProviding opportunities for GBRRailway heritage and links to the networkPublic supportFollowing the end of the competition, all applicants (successful and unsuccessful) will be provided with feedback on their application.

Great British Railways: Location

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Great British Railways headquarters is located, whether he plans to move a proportion of his Department's staff to that location.

Wendy Morton: The headquarters will be modest with the exact size yet to be determined. The GBR headquarters will provide strategic direction for the rail industry and the regionalised structure, ensuring decision making is bought to the regional and local level. At this stage it is far too early to say which roles will be based at the GBR HQ, this is all part of the ongoing planning work for the setup of GBR.

Railways: Croydon

Elliot Colburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government supports the delivery of the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme; what financial settlement the Government plans to award Network Rail to deliver that scheme; and what his timeframe is for delivery of that scheme.

Wendy Morton: The Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme seeks to address capacity constraints and improve service performance on the Brighton main line. While this scheme would offer valuable improvements to services on the line, it will require a significant amount of public funding. Although I am unable to discuss the status of individual projects in development at this time, it is becoming clear that the pandemic has brought about large change to commuting behaviours requiring government to make difficult decisions to bring rail spending back to affordable levels. I remain committed to publishing an update to the Rail Network Enhancement Portfolio, thereby confirming the status of individual schemes across England and Wales, including the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme.

Railways: Sutton

Elliot Colburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Govia Thameslink Railway on restoring rail services to pre-pandemic levels, especially during peak hours, to and from (a) Carshalton, (b) Carshalton Beeches, (c) Hackbridge and (d) Wallington stations.

Wendy Morton: The level of peak services at these four stations is broadly similar to that offered in the December 2019 timetable (the most recent timetable not affected by the pandemic). Services are operated by Thameslink and Southern, and both are continuing to work collaboratively with Network Rail and across the industry to improve the punctuality and reliability of services. As COVID-related restrictions have eased, the industry is adjusting service levels across the country. In line with the Department’s objectives, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which operates Thameslink and Southern services, is focusing on providing more capacity for commuters returning to the workplace. Its 15 May 2022 timetable change increases the frequency of weekday services where there was significant unmet demand. GTR aims to use its trains as efficiently as possible and reduce overlap where an alternative service exists. Across the GTR network, passenger numbers are approximately 70% of pre-pandemic levels.

Hackbridge Station

Elliot Colburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Govia Thameslink Railway on the (a) safety concerns regarding the gap between the train and the platform and (b) length of the platform at Hackbridge station; and whether his Department plans to offer assistance in tackling those concerns.

Wendy Morton: The Department is aware that for Southbound services at Hackbridge station, there is a larger than usual gap between the platform and the front of the train resulting from the age of the station. Network Rail has secured funding to deliver a full renewal of the platform which will reduce the gap. This will include a new platform edge, resurfacing and wider works to the track and track drainage. The platform has been fitted with signage advising customers of the gap and encouraging the use of doors further along the platform.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Fracking

Craig Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the British Geological Survey's short report on shale gas fracturing and the modelling of seismic activity in shale rocks in the UK, as commissioned in his letter dated 5 April 2022, if he will publish the criteria for revising the seismicity limits that apply to shale gas extraction.

Greg Hands: In 2019, the Government confirmed that the pause on the exploration of shale gas reserves in England would remain in place unless and until further evidence was provided that shale gas extraction could be carried out safely. Any exploration or development of shale gas would need to meet rigorous safety and environmental protections both above ground and sub-surface. The Government has commissioned the British Geological Survey to advise on the latest scientific evidence around shale gas extraction. Unless the latest scientific evidence demonstrates that shale gas extraction is safe, sustainable and of minimal disturbance to those living and working nearby, the pause in England will remain in place.

Green Deal Scheme: Complaints

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he expects the First-tier Tribunals for Green Deal scheme complaints to be concluded.

Greg Hands: The Government is unable to anticipate when the appeals currently with the First Tier Tribunal will be completed, as the Tribunal is outside the control of the Secretary of State.

Mineworkers' Pension Scheme

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 17 May 2022 to Question 344, on Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme, if he will publish the timeframe for mineworkers receiving full entitlement to their pensions.

Greg Hands: Members of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme are already receiving their full entitlement plus bonus pensions.

Department of Health and Social Care

Accident and Emergency Departments: Southport

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of A&E service provision for children in Southport.

Edward Argar: No recent assessment has been made. However, National Health Service leaders in West Lancashire, Formby, and Southport have recently launched the Shaping Care Together programme. This seeks to improve the configuration of services and ensure that NHS services meet the long term needs of the local population.

Protective Clothing: Storage

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the cost of storing PPE in warehouses during the period from April 2021 to May 2022; and whether his Department has made an estimate of the current (a) daily, (b) weekly or (c) monthly costs of storing PPE in warehouses.

Edward Argar: Based upon the current monthly average warehouse storage costs for personal protective equipment (PPE), the estimated cost for the period April 2021 to May 2022 is approximately £259 million. The current estimated average daily, weekly, and monthly cost of storing PPE in warehouses is £0.7 million, £5 million and £21.4 million respectively.

Food: Advertising

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021, made on 2 December 2021, whether he plans to repeal powers to restrict multibuy promotions such as buy one get one free.

Maggie Throup: We have no plans to repeal these Regulations. However, we have announced the intention to delay the introduction by 12 months to come into force from 1 October 2023.

Monkeypox: Vaccination

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the vaccination options available to prevent the spread of monkeypox.

Maggie Throup: Although it is not specifically licensed for the prevention of monkeypox in Europe, the smallpox vaccine, Imvanex, has been used in the United Kingdom in response to previous incidents. This vaccine has a good safety record. It is made from a smallpox-related virus which cannot replicate and has been demonstrated to be highly effective at preventing infection when administered within four days of exposure and reducing severe illness between four and 14 days of exposure.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published recommendations on the use of vaccination for named close contacts of cases, which is now is underway and wider vaccine eligibility is being kept under review. The UKHSA is working with suppliers to ensure a consistent supply.

Coronavirus: Drugs

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2022 to Question 151279, on Evusheld, how long the Antivirals and Therapeutics Taskforce or its predecessor took to assess and make a recommendation on the available antiviral treatments for covid-19.

Maggie Throup: Since the formation of the Antivirals Taskforce in April 2021, it has worked with RAPID C-19 to review clinical trials data for the oral antivirals then in development and with the National Health Service on potential patient cohorts and deployment models. This process supported the procurement of two oral antivirals, molnupiravir and Paxlovid, in October 2021. Molnupiravir subsequently received conditional marketing authorisation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on 4 November 2021 and Paxlovid on 31 December 2021.

Exercise: Ipswich

Tom Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment he has made of the average level of physical activity in Ipswich and other local authority areas in England.

Maggie Throup: To support local monitoring of physical activity in relation to the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMOs’) guidelines, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities produces estimates of physical activity for each local authority in England from Active Lives Adult Survey data and present estimates from the Active Lives Children and Young People Survey. In 2020/21, an estimated 54.1% of adults in Ipswich aged 19 years old and over reported achieving recommended physical activity levels, which was lower than the average for the East of England at 65.7% and 65.9% in England. During the academic year 2020/21, an estimated 40.2% of children and young people in Ipswich aged five to 16 years old in Ipswich met the CMOs’ guidelines of participating in sport and physical activity for an average of 60 minutes or more every day. This was similar to the average for the East of England at 43.2% and 44.6% in England.

Long Covid: Vaccination

Peter Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the offer of a fourth covid-19 booster jab to people diagnosed with long covid.

Maggie Throup: Following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), a COVID-19 spring booster dose is being offered in England to all residents in care homes for older adults, individuals aged 12 years old and over who are immunosuppressed, and all adults aged 75 years old and over. Those experiencing the long term effects of COVID-19 infection are not specifically offered a spring booster dose, unless they meet the criteria for these cohorts.On 19 May 2022, the (JCVI) published interim advice on an autumn COVID-19 booster programme. The JCVI’s current advice suggests that a COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to residents in a care home for older adults and staff; frontline health and social care workers; all those 65 years old and over; and adults aged 16 to 64 years old in a clinical risk group. The JCVI will continue to review the vaccination programme and the epidemiological situation, particularly in relation to the timing and value of doses for less vulnerable older adults and those in clinical risk groups before autumn 2022. The Government will consider the JCVI’s final recommendations later this year. NHS England has invested £224 million to provide care and support to individuals with post-COVID-19 syndrome. There are specialised services across England which assess people experiencing longer-term health implications from COVID-19 and directs them into care pathways which provide appropriate support, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Free School Meals and Healthy Start Scheme: Universal Credit

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to extend (a) Healthy Start and (b) free school meals to everyone who receives Universal Credit; and if he will make a statement.

Maggie Throup: The eligibility criteria for the Healthy Start scheme is kept under review. There are no current plans to extend the eligibility criteria for the scheme to all those who receives Universal Credit. Decisions on the provision of free school meals are a matter for the Department for Education.

Healthy Start Scheme

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make Healthy Start vouchers available to families with no recourse to public funds; and if he will make a statement.

Maggie Throup: The Department has established an interim scheme to access Healthy Start for British children under the age of four years old, whose parent or guardian meets the financial eligibility criteria and has no recourse to public funds as a consequence of their immigration status.

Healthy Start Scheme

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to extend eligibility for Healthy Start Vouchers by extending the age limit by one year to cover children under the age of five to cover the gap between the end of eligibility to Healthy Start and the start of free school meals; and if he will make a statement.

Maggie Throup: We have no current plans to do so. The eligibility criteria for the Healthy Start scheme is kept under review.

Vitamin D: Food

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to help ensure that people with lower incomes have access to foods rich in vitamin D.

Maggie Throup: The Healthy Start scheme provides prepaid cards which can be used to purchase or towards the cost of fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk and infant formula. Children, pregnant women and new mothers can receive a supplement which contains vitamin D through the scheme. Health professionals and others working with pregnant women and families from low-income households can advise on potential eligibility whilst also offering information and advice on issues such as healthy eating, breastfeeding and vitamins. The Government’s advice is that everyone, including those on lower incomes, should also consider taking a daily 10-microgram vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter.

Vitamin D: Deficiency Diseases

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the impact of vitamin D deficiency on people at high risk from covid-19 in the event that they contract that virus.

Maggie Throup: In 2020, the former Public Health England, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) considered the emerging evidence on vitamin D and the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. This included the publication of a rapid guideline on vitamin D and COVID-19 in December 2020, which concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support taking vitamin D solely to prevent or treat COVID-19.RAPID C-19, a multi-agency initiative led by NICE, continues to monitor evidence on vitamin D in relation to treatment for COVID-19. NICE is also monitoring evidence on vitamin D in relation to prevention of COVID-19. The SACN continues to monitor emerging evidence on nutrition and COVID-19. To date, no evidence has been identified that meets the threshold to trigger additional review against the existing COVID-19 rapid guideline.

Vitamin D: Dietary Supplements

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to raise awareness of the Government recommendation to take a vitamin D supplement in the autumn and winter months.

Maggie Throup: The Government’s advice on vitamin D is publicised via NHS.UK and social marketing campaigns such as Start4Life, Better Health and Healthier Families.The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities opened a call for evidence on vitamin D from 3 April to 15 May 2022, to gather views from the public, public health experts, retailers, food manufacturers and other industry bodies on improving the intake of vitamin D in the population, including through dietary supplements. The responses will inform future action to raise awareness of the benefits of vitamin D, particularly during the autumn and winter months when the public should consider taking a daily supplement. The outcome of the call for evidence will be published in due course.

Endometriosis: Clinics

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of endometriosis clinics in the UK.

Maria Caulfield: The information is not held centrally. The provision for endometriosis is commissioned locally by clinical commissioning groups, which have a statutory responsibility to commission healthcare services which meet the needs of the population.

Dental Services

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate he has made of the number of (a) private and (b) NHS dentists across the country broken down by Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Maria Caulfield: The information requested on the number of private dentists is not held. A table showing the number of dentists undertaking National Health Service activity in each clinical commissioning group in England in 2020/21 is attached.TABLE (xlsx, 22.2KB)

Dementia: Diagnosis

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on increasing diagnosis rates for dementia.

Gillian Keegan: We have had no specific discussions as this is a devolved matter.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Anoosheh Ashoori and Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will commission a full independent inquiry into her Department's handling of the cases of Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori.

James Cleverly: This Government was committed to securing Mrs Zagari-Ratcliffe's and Mr Ashoori's release as soon as possible and that is what we have done. It was always entirely in Iran's gift to release them. The UK does not, and never will, accept our nationals being used as diplomatic leverage.We stand ready to work with Parliament and have already submitted evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee on its inquiry into HMG's approach to complex detention cases, with a focus on Iran cases, including Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's detention.

Chile: Politics and Government

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with her Chilean counterpart on political stability in that country.

Vicky Ford: We have a close and longstanding bilateral relationship with Chile. This includes cooperation on the pandemic and global health issues, human rights, science, defence and security. The Minister for the Latin America attended the inauguration of President Boric on 11 March and had a number of productive meetings with the new government, including Foreign Minister Andrea Urrejola. The Prime Minister spoke to President Boric on 26 April.

Africa: Conflict Prevention

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has targets for reducing levels of (a) violence and (b) violent deaths as part of her Department’s approach to conflict prevention in the African continent.

Vicky Ford: The UK's approach to conflict prevention is to address underlying causes and drivers of violence, to support political agreements that end armed conflict and to build the capacity of partners to withstand shocks that could cause conflict. Areas of focus include Ethiopia, Nigeria and the Sahel. We are also establishing a new conflict prevention and atrocity prevention hub that brings together all UK Government capabilities to anticipate and respond to situations of concern. Given the methodological challenges in setting targets and measuring levels of violence, or conflict fatalities, we do not think that a focus on those measures would help us deliver our conflict prevention objectives in specific countries.

Development Aid

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support elected women in parliaments overseas.

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what bilateral programmes her Department has in place to support elected women in parliaments overseas.

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to work with multilateral institutions to support elected women in parliaments overseas.

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps Her Majesty's Ambassadors are taking to support elected women parliamentarians in the countries where they are posted.

Vicky Ford: The Foreign Secretary has put women and girls at the centre of the UK's foreign policy. The FCDO's International Development Strategy commits us to using development and diplomatic levers to unlock the social, economic and political agency of women and girls and work to ensure women's voices are heard at all social, political and economic levels. The Westminster Foundation for Democracy are a key partner to help us deliver our objectives on women's political empowerment, including support for women in parliament, and the Foreign Secretary has agreed to increase their grant-in-aid from £5.1 million to £6.5 million per year over the next three years. The UK has joined the Global Partnership for Action on Gender Based Online Harassment Abuse, whose work will include addressing violence directed towards women in their public lives as journalists, politicians, or activists.In 2021-22 there were 24 bilateral development programmes working both to strengthen political institutions and also having a gender focus. The UK also supports women parliamentarians through core funding to multilaterals: in 2021, the UN Development Programme assisted 30 electoral authorities to establish inclusive electoral processes and UN Women contributed to 3 laws on gender balance in elections and decision-making bodies. In addition to our development work, our embassies across the world promote women's and girls' political leadership through schemes such as 'Ambassador for a day' or the #EmbasShe initiative in the Netherlands.

Africa: Development Aid

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact her Department’s International Development Strategy on the lives of disabled people in African countries.

Vicky Ford: As set out in the Integrated Review, we remain committed to Africa, and to building partnerships with African countries that lead to a freer, safer, more prosperous, healthier, and greener continent. The UK is proud to have a strong track record of galvanising global progress on disability rights and remains committed to further advancing the rights and freedoms of people with disabilities. The FCDO Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy, which we published in February this year, sets out our international approach to 2030. It outlines our vision for a sustainable, inclusive and equitable future where people with disabilities are meaningfully engaged and empowered to be able to enjoy their full rights on an equal basis with others. The vision will be delivered by ensuring people with disabilities achieve their rights by having greater voice through full participation, more choice and control in all aspects of their lives, and gain greater visibility through comprehensive and responsive data collection.

Town Twinning

Karen Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of pairing British towns and cities with those in Ukraine and surrounding countries, to help support humanitarian efforts and to rebuild destroyed infrastructure.

James Cleverly: The UK remains committed to supporting Ukraine, and we will continue to explore all available options to support Ukraine's humanitarian and reconstruction needs. Whilst twinning is a matter for councils themselves, the Government has recently used the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities' daily local government bulletin to highlight the Cities4Cities initiative; an on-line platform, sponsored by the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, that matches the demands and needs of Ukrainian cities with the capacity and know-how of local authorities across Europe, including those in the United Kingdom.

Alaa Abdel Fattah

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to support British citizen Alaa Abd El-Fattah who is imprisoned and on hunger strike in Egypt.

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on how many occasions she has spoken to her Egyptian counterpart this year; and whether she raised the case of Alaa Abd El-Fattah.

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what her Department's policy is on the right to consular access for UK citizens imprisoned abroad; and if it will assert that right in the case of Alaa Abd El-Fattah.

James Cleverly: The UK Government is in contact with the Egyptian authorities and urgently seeking consular access. We continue to support the family of Alaa Abdel Fattah. The UK Government regularly raises human rights concerns with the Egyptian authorities, including with regard to political prisoners in the Egyptian system, both privately and in forums such as the UN Human Rights Council. This includes raising the implementation of the rights guaranteed by Egypt's constitution.

East Africa: Droughts

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the severe drought episode in the East and Horn of Africa.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the rising global food prices caused by the violence in Ukraine do not exacerbate levels of food insecurity in the East and Horn of Africa.

Vicky Ford: East Africa is experiencing one of its most severe droughts in history with more than 15 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia assessed to be acutely food insecure, according to the UN. A fourth consecutive - and unprecedented - season of failed rains is contributing to growing water scarcity, alarming rates of malnutrition and huge numbers of livestock deaths. Needs are grave in Somalia where an estimated 81,000 people are experiencing famine-like conditions.The UK is a major humanitarian donor to the East Africa region. In 2022 to support communities affected by drought plus flooding and conflict the UK has provided £72 million to Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan. Across the region UK funded humanitarian activities are making a difference and saving lives. In Kenya the UK is providing 26,000 children with life-saving nutritional support. In Ethiopia a further 200,000 children and pregnant and lactating women in southern and eastern regions will receive similar aid.The UK also played a critical role in convening the recent UN Horn of Africa Drought Roundtable which took place in late April in Geneva. This included working with states in the region and the UN to ensure appropriate levels of participation. It helped to bring much needed focus on the drought and it mobilised roughly US$400 million in new funding.Countries across the Horn of Africa will also be impacted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine due to the increase in the costs of food commodities and fuel on global markets. We are exploring how we can help lessen the impact of rising food prices caused by the war in Ukraine on vulnerable communities in East Africa. This includes assessing alternate markets for procurement of food supplies and working with UN partners to promote effective prioritisation so assistance reaches the neediest.Our response to the drought builds on long-established resilience building programmes in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. In Kenya this includes support to the Hunger Safety Programme, which has provided 600,000 people in drought prone areas with regular financial assistance. In Ethiopia, the UK funded Productive Safety Net Programme has benefitted some 8 million people via financial welfare provision and community public works projects. In Somalia the UK has been supporting over 220 rural communities in three large urban cities with durable solutions initiatives for internally displaced persons. These programmes, coupled with additional investments, have enabled the UK to reach nearly 8 million individuals as a part of its emergency humanitarian response.

Sahel: Food Supply

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of levels of food insecurity affecting people in the Sahel region of Africa.

Vicky Ford: According to UN projections, 12.7 million people are severely food insecure in the Sahel. This figure covers those living in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania, and is the highest in over a decade.The UK is a significant humanitarian donor in the region and continues to support the humanitarian response in the Sahel. We are working with partners, through our humanitarian programmes, to address urgent food insecurity, respond to severe acute malnutrition, and provide protection and basic life-saving assistance to conflict-affected people. Since 2019, we have supported 10.5 million people with life-saving assistance across the G5 Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Mauritania).

Sahel: Development Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate she has made of the level of funding allocated to the Sahel region from the Official Development Assistance budget (a) in 2020, (b) in 2021 and (c) for 2022.

Vicky Ford: The former Department for International Development (DFID's) Annual Report and Accounts (published online https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/902370/annual-accounts19-20.pdf) shows that £69.7 million of Official Development Assistance (ODA) was allocated to the Joint Sahel Department for 2019-2020.For 2020-2021, the FCDO's Annual Report and Accounts (published online https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-annual-report-and-accounts-2020-to-2021) shows that £69.6 million of ODA was allocated to the Joint Sahel Department.The FCDO's Annual Report and Accounts for 2021-2022 will be laid in Parliament before the Summer recess and will include further detail on FCDO's ODA spending.

Ministry of Justice

Family Proceedings

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Family Justice Panel report, Assessing risk of harm to children and parents in private law children cases, updated on 5 August 2020, and accompanying Implementation Plan published by his Department, when the more detailed delivery plan planned for the end of 2020 will be published; and if he will make a statement.

James Cartlidge: This Government is committed to system-wide reform of the family justice system, improving the experience and outcomes for parents, domestic abuse survivors and their children and good progress has been made. To coincide with the two year anniversary of the publication of the expert panel’s report ‘Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Children Cases’, the Government intends to publish an update detailing progress against commitments made in the Implementation Plan.

Treasury

Public Sector: Car Allowances

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will (a) lift the mileage rates limit for public sector workers who are required to use their vehicle to do their jobs and (b) increase the approved mileage rates in line with the current cost of fuel.

Helen Whately: The Government sets Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) to minimise administrative burdens. AMAPs aim to reflect running costs including fuel, servicing, and depreciation. Depreciation is estimated to constitute the most significant proportion of the AMAPs. Employers are not required to use the AMAPs. Instead, they can agree to reimburse the actual cost incurred, where individuals can provide evidence of the expenditure, without an Income Tax or National Insurance charge arising. The Government keeps this policy under review. Also, the Government recognises that public sector workers play a vital role in the running of our economy, and in delivering our public services.  Spending Review 2021 confirmed that public sector workers will see pay rises across the whole Spending Review period (22/23-24/25).

Pensioners: Energy Bills Rebate

John McNally: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people of state pension age who will not be eligible for the £150 council tax rebate because they live in properties with tax bands E to H; and what assessment the Government made of the potential impact on that group before restricting eligibility to people in properties in Council Tax bands A to D.

Helen Whately: The Government understands the pressures that people across the UK are facing with the cost of living. This is why the Government is providing over £15 billion in further support targeted towards those with the greatest need. From the Autumn, over eight million pensioner households who receive the winter fuel payment, will receive an extra one-off pensioner cost-of-living payment of £300 this year to help cover the rising cost of energy this winter. Local authorities in England have received £144 million of discretionary funding to support households that are not eligible for the council tax rebate, including households in bands E-H. Local authorities are best-placed to determine how this support should be targeted, informed by guidance from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.Devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving Barnett funding as a result of the council tax rebate and associated discretionary funding in England.

Married People: Tax Allowances

Chris Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the Marriage Allowance.

Lucy Frazer: The Government introduced the Marriage Allowance (MA) in April 2015 to recognise marriage and civil partnerships in the tax system. It allows a spouse or civil partner to transfer 10 per cent of their Personal Allowance (PA) if their partner is a basic rate taxpayer. At Spring Budget 2021, the Chancellor announced that the PA would be maintained from the years 2022-23 to 2025-26. The transferable tax allowance of £1,260 provided through the MA will remain at its current level until 2025-26. As with all elements of Income Tax, the Government keeps this under review as part of the annual Budget process.

Families: Taxation

Chris Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to reduce the tax burden on families.

Lucy Frazer: The Chancellor’s Tax Plan cut the burden on working families by raising the threshold at which people pay National Insurance contributions from July 2022 and by cutting fuel duty by 5 pence for 12 months. This plan will also spread the benefit of economic growth by cutting the basic rate of Income Tax from April 2024. The Government has also provided at least £1200 to the most vulnerable households this year to help with the cost of living.

Child Benefit

Martyn Day: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2022 to Question 869 on Child Benefit, if his Department will (a) make and (b) publish an assessment of the potential merits of indexing the High Income Child Benefit Charge threshold in line with inflation.

Lucy Frazer: The Government introduced the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) to ensure that support for families is targeted at those who need it most. It applies to anyone with an individual adjusted net income over £50,000 who gets, or whose partner gets, Child Benefit. The charge increases gradually for those with incomes between £50,000 and £60,000. The HICBC threshold has never been indexed with inflation. The threshold of £50,000 only affects a minority of those who get Child Benefit with comparatively high incomes. The Government has decided that the current threshold for HICBC remains the best option. As with all elements of tax policy, the threshold is kept under review as part of the Government’s annual Budget process. If the Government does determine that it is appropriate to make any change to the HICBC threshold, an assessment will be published on GOV.UK.

Carbon Emissions: Taxation

Peter Aldous: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a UK carbon border adjustment mechanism.

Lucy Frazer: As the UK transitions to Net Zero, the Government recognises the importance of addressing the risk of carbon leakage. The best solution would be for all countries to move together in the pricing and regulation of carbon emissions. However, international solutions will take time to develop, and so the Government is considering options for domestic action in parallel. As I set out in a Written Ministerial Statement on 16 May 2022, later in the year the Government intends to consult on a range of carbon leakage mitigation options, including on whether measures such as product standards and a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) could be appropriate tools in the UK’s policy mix.

Elizabeth Line: Scotland

Dave Doogan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much the Scottish Government has received in Barnett consequentials as a direct result of the London Crossrail Project; whether that project has been treated as an exceptional; and to what extent the calculation of Crossrail-related Barnett has differed from the calculation of standard transport-related funding as laid out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Barnett formula has been applied to spending on Crossrail as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy. Crossrail is classified as local transport, which is devolved in Scotland, so spending on Crossrail feeds through into Barnett-based funding for the Scottish Government. The Barnett formula determines changes in the Scottish Government’s funding, not the overall funding, and is applied at departmental level at Spending Reviews. Barnett consequentials don’t therefore reflect the funding provided to the Scottish Government in relation to specific programmes or projects. The Block Grant Transparency publication sets out the breakdown of Barnett consequentials for the Scottish Government.

Public Sector: Pay

Alex Norris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a real terms pay increase for public sector workers.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Government recognises that public sector workers play a vital role in the running of our economy, and in delivering our world class public services. Spending Review 2021 confirmed that public sector workers will see pay rises across the whole Spending Review period (22/23-24/25).Pay for most frontline workforces - including nurses, teachers and armed forces - is set through an independent Pay Review Body (PRB) process. They will consider a range of evidence when forming their recommendations, including the need to recruit, retain and motivate suitably able and qualified people; the financial circumstances of government; the government’s policies for improving public services; and the government’s inflation target. They will consider the whole remuneration package of those working in the public sector when forming their recommendations, including substantially more generous pensions. The Government will carefully consider all recommendations from the Pay Review Bodies once their final reports are submitted.

Workplace Pensions

Alex Norris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reintroducing the cost control mechanism for public service pensions.

Mr Simon Clarke: The cost control mechanism was introduced following the recommendations of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission in 2011. Whilst the Commission recommended a mechanism to protect the Exchequer from increased costs, the Government went a step further and introduced a mechanism that is symmetrical and so also maintains the value of pensions to members when costs fall. The mechanism still operates with respect to the main public service pension schemes and so is not in need of reintroduction. It was tested for the first time at the 2016 valuations, but the process was paused before results were finalised due to uncertainty regarding the value of pension schemes following the McCloud judgment. The Government subsequently published amending Directions in October 2021 which enable schemes to complete the cost control element of the 2016 valuations. Most schemes have now finalised their results and those that haven’t will do so shortly. The mechanism will be tested again at the next scheme valuations (“the 2020 valuations”). The Government previously announced that, following a review by the Government Actuary and a full public consultation, it will implement three reforms to the cost control mechanism for the 2020 valuations onwards to ensure it is operating more in line with its objectives. All three changes are expected to make the mechanism more stable, meaning changes to member benefits or contributions become less likely. The reforms thus help provide greater certainty regarding members’ projected retirement incomes and level of contributions.

Church Commissioners

Churches: Finance

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to Figure 10 of the report entitled Independent Review of Lowest Income Communities funding and Strategic Development Funding published by Sir Robert Chote and others in February 2022, how many of the national total of 25,923 new disciples the Church of England expects to be in Truro Diocese; and how many of the 5,019 new disciples have been recorded by the Strategic Development Unit.

Andrew Selous: The question relates to the ‘Transforming Mission’ project in the Diocese of Truro. Strategic Development Funding was granted initially in 2017 for Transforming Mission in Falmouth and further grants were awarded in 2019 to extend the project to Truro, Camborne, St Austell, and Liskeard. Transforming Mission represents a significant investment in parish ministry in the county of Cornwall, benefitting many deprived parishes. While the project has been hit hard by Covid, with disruption meaning detailed and up-to-date data is not available, early signs are that there has been a positive recovery and return to church since the pandemic; although more time will be needed to fully realise its planned outcomes compared to if the pandemic had not happened.  Transforming Mission in Falmouth has shown encouraging results, with growth in the existing parish congregation and a new congregation, and increased engagement with the community and university in Falmouth. In Camborne, at the time of the funding award in 2019 the parishes were in regular contact with 20 children and young people per month. By May 2022 this had increased to 460 children and young people, and 230 parents and carers in regular contact with the parishes.

Ministry of Defence

Army: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to make available to Parliament through life capability road maps, referred to on p18 of the Land Industrial Strategy.

Jeremy Quin: As described in the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy (DSIS), the government is committed to publishing clear statements of our national security needs, plans, and technology priorities. The Land Industrial Strategy (LIS) provides the first iteration of our Land investment plan over the next decade and we intend to expand this to offer a longer term view that includes the mission system upgrades required to keep our equipment contemporary. As the Department implements the new LIS, it also intends to develop more detailed through life plans that will indicate the level of upkeep required, the updates necessary to attend to obsolescence, and the upgrades required to address the threats we face. Publication will be dependent upon the security classification of the final product.

Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the 2021 report of the RFCA External Scrutiny Team was received by his office; and when he plans to publish it.

Leo Docherty: The Ministry of Defence received the Reserves Forces External Scrutiny Team's report last year. A copy of the report was placed in the Library of the House on 26 May 2022: Reserve Forces and Cadets Association External Scrutiny Team Report 2021 DEP2022-0444.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Advisory Committee: Public Appointments

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applicants were interviewed for the post of Chair of the Social Security Advisory Committee.

Guy Opperman: Six candidates were interviewed for the post of Chair of Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) in July 2020.

Universal Credit: Impact Assessments

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department undertook an equality impact assessment on the migration of claimants from legacy benefits to Universal Credit.

David Rutley: Yes, the Department has undertaken an equality assessment to fulfil the requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty as set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. As Discovery progresses it is subject to revision as we learn and iterate the processes of managed migration.

Universal Credit

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, by what means her Department is contacting claimants on legacy benefits who are due to move to Universal Credit; what support is in place to assist claimants in this process; and if she will make a statement.

David Rutley: Everyone who is required to move will receive a managed migration notice informing them that they need to make a claim for Universal Credit. Through our testing and learning we will be able to determine the best way to provide this notification to claimants, but all recipients will have a minimum of three months to make their Universal Credit claim.As part of this learning process, one of the key things we are seeking to better understand, is what additional support is required for people to make their claim to UC. There will be a wide range of support which is available from the outset, consisting of:A dedicated DWP phoneline for those receiving a migration noticeComprehensive guidance on Gov.ukSpecially trained staff in JCP’s and service centres who can identify and signpost to local tailored supportSupport through Help to Claim

Universal Credit

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of how many claimants who are expected to move from legacy benefits to Universal Credit will consequentially receive (a) more and (b) less in benefits between May 2022 and May 2024; and if she will make a statement.

David Rutley: The vast majority of claimants will either be better off, or no worse off. The ‘Completing Move to UC’ publication Completing the move to Universal Credit - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) sets out the departments analysis of the estimated number of claimants expected to be moved to Universal Credit.The Department is currently focused on the discovery phase of managed migration starting with 250 claimants in Bolton and Medway respectively. We are committed to ensuring the final phase of Universal Credit is rolled out safely and is responsibly delivered by the end of 2024.

Department for Work and Pensions: Staff

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff have been employed in her Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by directorate.

Guy Opperman: Department for Work and Pensions Full Time Equivalent (FTE) as at the end of each financial year by directorate* DirectorateMar-22Central Analysis and Science Directorate78Change Group1,025Digital Group3,945Finance Group2,000People, Capability and Place Group1,769Private Office93Strategic Communications117Policy Group1,387Service Excellence Group21,901Work and Health Services Group49,783DWP Total82,099 DirectorateMar-21Change718Digital2,898Finance Group1,955People, Capability and Place Group1,508Private Office85Communications227Policy Group1,183Service Excellence Group19,700Work and Health Services Group53,082Not Available59DWP Total81,415 DirectorateMar-20Central Analysis and Science Directorate97Change813Digital2,673Finance Group1,888People and Capability Group1,201Private Office92Communications238Strategy1,022Service Excellence Group21,504Work and Health Services Group39,264Not Available1DWP Total68,794 DirectorateMar-19Change896Digital2,720Finance Group3,821Human Resources524Private Office4Communications122Policy Group1,103Operations63,939Not Available214DWP Total73,341 DirectorateMar-18Change1,045Technology2,538Finance Group3,815Human Resources484Private Office57Communications289Strategy, Policy and Analysis Group1,017Operations64,834DWP Total74,080 * FTE is rounded to nearest whole number** Includes paid employees only*** The reporting hierarchy and directorate names within DWP has changed over this period as a result of internal restructuring

Social security Benefits: Cost of Living

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to strengthen the social safety net to support households in the context of the rising cost of living.

David Rutley: This government is committed to supporting those on low incomes. We will spend over £242bn through the welfare system in Great Britain in 2022/23 including £108bn on people of working age and over £134 billion on pensioners. Of the total amount, around £64 billion will be spent on supporting disabled people and people with health conditions.We understand the pressures people are facing with the cost of living. These are global challenges, but the Government has taken action to support and help families worth over £22 billion in 2022-23. This includes the £9.1 billion energy bill rebate package, worth up to £350 each for around 28 million households and we are giving 1.7 million families an extra £1,000 a year through our cut to the Universal Credit taper and increase to work allowances. Also, from July 2022, the government are raising the National Insurance threshold to £12,570. We are also providing an additional £500 million to help households with the cost of essentials, on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing the total funding for this support to £1 billion. In England, £421 million will be provided to extend the existing Household Support Fund, whilst the devolved administrations will receive £79 million through the Barnett formula.

Pension Credit: Wales

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the take up rate of Pension Credit in (a) Flintshire and (b) Wales; and what steps her Department is taking to increase take up of Pension Credit.

Guy Opperman: There are currently some 3,600 recipients of Pension Credit in Flintshire and 84,630 Pension Credit recipients in Wales. We have already undertaken a range of actions to raise awareness of Pension Credit and increase take-up. Initial internal management information suggests that new claims for Pension Credit in the 12 months to December 2021 were around 30% higher compared to the 12 months to December 2019. Earlier this year, we directly targeted over 11 million pensioners with information about Pension Credit and the additional support it can provide in the leaflet accompanying their annual up-rating notification. However, it is more important now than ever before that we ensure all eligible pensioners claim the vital financial help which Pension Credit provides. That’s why on 3 April we launched a new Pension Credit awareness campaign. We are promoting Pension Credit in a variety of ways, including on social media – with advertising targeted both at potential recipients as well as their friends and family and also in key locations for the elderly, such as post offices and GP waiting rooms. I have written to the editors of regional newspapers across England, Scotland and Wales calling on readers to check if they could be eligible and make a claim. This was done on repeat occasions in 2021. I have also written to all MPs, urging them to lend the campaign their support. MPs are well placed to promote Pension Credit to their older constituents and many already do so. On 6 June there will be a further roundtable meeting with some stakeholders, who have reach and expertise, to identify other practical initiatives to encourage eligible pensioners to claim. On 15 June, there will be another Pension Credit awareness media day of action with broadcasters, newspapers and other partners encouraged to reach out to pensioners to promote Pension Credit through their channels. We will also extend the campaign to include advertising in regional and national newspapers.  This event was a success in 2021. We know that one of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholders working in the community. We will be producing and distributing leaflets and posters which can be used across local communities, and we will also be updating our digital toolkit with information and resources that any stakeholder can use to help promote Pension Credit.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Flood Control: Shrewsbury

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to mitigate the risk of flooding throughout Shrewsbury in the short and medium term, in the context of recent record levels of flooding.

Rebecca Pow: The Government is investing a record £5.2 billion in a new six-year capital investment programme to deliver around 2,000 flood schemes, benefiting every region of England, better protecting 336,000 properties from flooding. The Environment Agency routinely inspects and maintains its existing flood risk management assets at the Frankwell and Coleham Head areas in Shrewsbury, ensuring they remain operational and highly effective at alleviating flooding to properties, businesses and infrastructure including through the most recent significant flooding events. The Environment Agency with the River Severn Partnership is developing a catchment scale approach to sustainable flood risk and water management across the Upper Severn catchment, to help address flooding and the impacts of climate change under the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme. This scheme has been provided with £10 million of Government Economic Recovery Funding to support the development of business cases and the frameworks needed to underpin future delivery. Amongst other outcomes, the scheme seeks to develop catchment-based approaches to reduce flood risk to up to 3,000 properties and 1,000 businesses across the upper and middle Severn. An additional £4.5 million of economic recovery funding has also been allocated to ‘demonstrator’ projects benefiting the Shrewsbury region: at Attingham Park, on the Rea Brook, in Guilsfield, Afon Camlad and Afon Cain Brooks in the upstream catchment. The Environment Agency and partners are also developing a long term Climate Resilience & Adaption Strategy to cover the geographical extent of the River Severn area, encompassing the Severn catchment, comprising the Severn, Teme, Avon and Wye.

Flood Control: Shrewsbury

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to protect the areas of Shrewsbury’s town centre, Coton Hill, Coleham, and Riverside, from flooding.

Rebecca Pow: After severe flooding in Shrewsbury in 2000, the Frankwell and Coleham Head Flood Alleviation Schemes were built. These schemes are designed to protect 75 and 80 properties respectively. These schemes proved to be highly effective at alleviating flooding to properties, businesses and infrastructure during further significant flood events, including February 2022. The Environment Agency has recently conducted an initial assessment for areas of Shrewsbury which remain at risk of flooding. Identified options have been explored and indicative solutions have been shared with communities via Flood Action Groups. The Environment Agency is working closely with Shropshire Council as it considers options to redevelop the riverside area of the town. This includes exploring options for further reducing flood risk.

River Wear: Pollution Control

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has had recent discussions with Durham County Council on funding to reduce pollution in the river Wear.

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has had recent discussions with the Treasury on funding to reduce pollution in the river Wear.

Rebecca Pow: The Government funds a wide range of schemes designed to tackle the pressures on the water environment. For example, we have nearly doubled the annual budget for Catchment Sensitive Farming to £30 million to provide free one to one advice to farmers to help them reduce pollution. We have also recently launched a new ‘Woodlands for Water’ project designed to facilitate the creation of riparian wildlife woodland corridors which can provide a variety of benefits for aquatic habitats. Pollution from abandoned mines is the key problem on the River Wear which benefits from the government funded Water and Abandoned Metal Mines programme, with an expected £19 million capital budget over the next three years. Government investment has improved 100 km of rivers polluted by abandoned metal mines since 2011, and we have proposed a new statutory target to further drive this work under the Environment Act, which we are consulting on now. The Environment Agency is working with partner organisations on various projects funded by Defra’s Water Environment Improvement Fund. This includes the Return to Eden project to educate local businesses about the effects of industrial drainage and transport of pollutants, and the Wear Estuary project aimed to improve 3 km of habitat conditions along the estuary edge, which will provide subsequent benefits to overall water quality. In addition to government funding, between 2020 and 2025, water companies will invest £7.1 billion in environmental improvements in England.

Air Pollution

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to mark Clean Air Day 2022.

Jo Churchill: Clean Air Day is run by Global Action Plan (GAP). Defra has provided financial support for the delivery of this event since its inception in 2017. We are working closely with GAP on their plans for this year’s Clean Air Day and how the Department will participate.

Home Office

British Overseas Territories: British Nationality

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who (a) are the children of unmarried parents from the British Overseas Territories and (b) have sought to claim citizenship through their mother have had their application for British Overseas Territories citizenship rejected in each of the last three years.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

British Overseas Territories: British Nationality

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress has been made on the Government's consultation on the British Nationality Act 1981 in respect to discriminatory citizenship rules for people from the British Overseas Territories.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Sanctions: Russia

Sir Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she intends to use seized Russian assets frozen under sanctions for the benefit of victims in Ukraine.

Damian Hinds: Law enforcement agencies are currently able to freeze and seize foreign assets with links to criminality or unlawful conduct, by making use of powers granted under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Rape: Criminal Proceedings

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that people who are under investigation for rape are monitored to prevent (a) further attacks and (b) evasion of justice.

Rachel Maclean: Individuals who are under investigation for rape may be placed on pre-charge bail when the police consider it necessary and proportionate. Conditions may be attached to this bail and are given with specific reference to factors including to ensure the person does not commit further offences or abscond from police custody. These factors are set out in existing primary legislation. Decisions on whether to bail individuals and which conditions to set against them are operational matters for individual police forces and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Where individuals breach their bail conditions, the police have a power to arrest those individuals.We are delivering actions through the Rape Review to ensure that police investigations are efficient and consider the risks posed by suspects under investigation. This includes supporting delivery of Operation Soteria and funding the policing aspects of the programme which include the dissemination and development of best practice learning to improve the efficiency of investigations.Furthermore, we are working with partners to improve the capabilities of police officers in relation to issues that are relevant to sexual offences. As part of the Policing Education Qualification Framework, all student police officers will receive training to identify the factors that contribute to the vulnerability of victims and witnesses and respond appropriately.Through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act we are also strengthening the regime to manage sexual offenders and those that pose a risk of sexual harm but have not been convicted. The police may apply to a court for a Sexual Risk Orders (SRO), which can be applied to any individual who poses a risk of sexual harm in the UK or abroad, even if they have never been convicted.An SRO can place a range of restrictions on an individual depending on the nature of the case, such as limiting their internet use or preventing travel abroad. Breach of an SRO is a criminal offence punishable by a maximum of 5 years’ imprisonment.The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 now specifies that the court should apply the lower civil standard of proof (‘balance of probabilities’), rather than the criminal standard, when determining whether the individual the application is made in respect of has done the act in question.

Domestic Abuse

Mark Logan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that cases of emotional abuse are afforded the same priority as physical abuse cases.

Rachel Maclean: Tackling domestic abuse is a priority for this Government. The landmark Domestic Abuse Act 2021 introduced for the first time a legal definition of domestic abuse that is wide-ranging, recognising a range of abuses beyond physical violence; including sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, economic abuse, and controlling or coercive behaviour. Putting the definition on a statutory footing aims to ensure that domestic abuse is properly understood and that all public agencies and relevant parties are applying a common definition in seeking to tackle this abhorrent crime.Building on this, the Government went further and on 30 March, published the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan which will seek to transform the whole of society’s response to domestic abuse in all its forms.Emotional abuse can form part of a pattern of controlling or coercive behaviour. The Domestic Abuse Act extended the coercive and controlling behaviour offence removing the ‘living together’ requirement to ensure that the offence applies to partners, ex-partners or family members, regardless of whether the victim and perpetrator live together. We are also in the process of updating the Controlling or Coercive Behaviour Statutory Guidance to further support frontline agencies in identifying, investigating and evidencing domestic abuse offences. We launched a public consultation on the draft guidance on 30 April.

MI5: Environment Protection

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how an hon. Member may make a request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 for environmental sustainability reports made by MI5.

Damian Hinds: Requests under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 to MI5 can be made via its website.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to implement the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union C-247/20 VI on 10 March 2022 on comprehensive sickness insurance.

Rachel Maclean: The judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU in the case C-247/20 raises many questions regarding residence rights and access to benefits under EU law.The Government is carefully considering the impacts of the judgment and seeking further legal advice on the implications.

High Rise Flats: Fire and Rescue Services

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance the Government has provided to fire authorities on basing operational firefighting decisions on the risks of fire to high rise properties.

Kit Malthouse: Fire and rescue authorities are responsible for judging how to respond to the risks presented by residential high-rise buildings to their local communities.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Civil Servants: North West

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to move civil service jobs to the North West.

Eddie Hughes: The number of roles within my Department which are based in the North West has grown from 103 in March 2020 to 180 in April 2002, an increase of 75%.

Rents

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of applying further controls to rents in (a) York and (b) other high cost areas.

Eddie Hughes: The Government does not support the introduction of rent controls. Historical evidence suggests that rent controls would discourage investment in the sector and would lead to declining property standards as a result, which would not help landlords or tenants. Recent international examples also suggest that rent controls can have an inadvertent negative impact on the supply of housing and may encourage more illegal subletting.   In the Queen’s Speech 2022, we committed to introducing a Renters Reform Bill in this parliamentary session. Through this, we will abolish ‘no fault’ evictions by removing Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, providing security for tenants in the private rented sector and empowering them to challenge poor practice and unfair rent increases without fear of retaliatory eviction.   It is important to note that currently if tenants with periodic tenancies believe the level of rent increase is unfair, they can already refer the matter to the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for independent adjudication. The Tribunal will consider whether the rent increase is in line with market rent.

Park Homes: Fees and Charges

Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what his timeframe is for changing the annual index of park home pitch fees from the Retail Price Index to the Consumer Price Index.

Eddie Hughes: The Government remains committed to improving protections for park home residents and this includes changing the pitch fee review inflationary index from the Retail Prices Index (RPI) to the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). We will introduce the required legislation when the parliamentary timetable allows.

Freehold: Sales

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to support co-freeholders who are prevented from selling their property and share of freehold as a result of other co-freeholders refusing to sign transfer documents.

Eddie Hughes: The Government supports a well-functioning housing market where there are clear rules in place to ensure transactions can be carried out fairly. The Levelling Up White Paper sets out plans to work with the industry to improve the home buying and selling process. Where the freehold of a building is owned by joint tenants or tenants-in-common, a legally binding Declaration of Trust can set out the co-owners' rights and obligations toward each other. Depending on the circumstances of a case, there is a current legal route which would allow an application to the County Court for an order requiring a co-owner to sign any relevant documentation.

Leasehold: Reform

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he expects the second part of the Government’s leasehold reform legislation to be brought forward.

Eddie Hughes: The Government remains committed to creating a fair and just housing system that works for everyone. We will be taking forward a comprehensive programme of reform to end unfair practices in the leasehold market.   The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 will come into force on 30 June. The Act will make homeownership fairer and more transparent for thousands of future leaseholders, by preventing landlords under new residential long leases from requiring a leaseholder to pay a financial ground rent This is the first part of seminal two-part legislation to implement leasehold and commonhold reforms in this Parliament. This is a long-term reform programme; it is complex with many interdependencies and will take time to get the detail right. Once it is enacted the effect will be felt for generations and so we are determined this work considers all the implications and impacts with care.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Stuart C McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether resettled Afghans who reject two offers of accommodation will be considered intentionally homeless or will still be able to apply to a local authority for homelessness assistance.

Eddie Hughes: Homelessness is a devolved matter, but in all parts of the UK Afghan households would be able to apply for homelessness assistance if asked to leave bridging accommodation, following rejection of two appropriate offers of accommodation.In England, the local authority will have duties to try and help them secure accommodation to 'relieve' their homelessness. These duties apply irrespective of the reason for them becoming homeless. If the local authority has been unable to relieve homelessness within 56 days of accepting the duty, they will have to decide whether a longer term housing duty is owed, including assessing if the household is intentionally homeless.Housing authorities must not adopt general policies which seek to pre-define circumstances that do or do not amount to intentional homelessness. In each case, housing authorities must form a view in the light of all their inquiries about that particular case. Guidance about the law relating to intentional homelessness in England is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homelessness-code-of-guidance-for-local-authorities/chapter-9-intentional-homelessness.

Private Rented Housing

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to reform the private rented sector and help strengthening renters’ rights; and if he will make it his policy to end Section 21 evictions.

Eddie Hughes: We are absolutely committed to tackling the worst issues in the private rented sector and delivering a better deal for renters. That is why we announced in the Queen's Speech 2022 that we will be bringing forward a Renters Reform Bill in this session.In this bill we will abolish section 21 'no fault' evictions under the Housing Act 1988, providing security for tenants in the private rented sector and empowering them to challenge poor practice and unfair rent increases without fear of retaliatory eviction.We will publish a White Paper shortly that will set out more detail on these measures and our wider reform package.

Council Tax Reduction Schemes: Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how much funding was provided to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council through his Department's Local Council Tax Support Administration Subsidy Grant.

Kemi Badenoch: On 18 May 2022, the Government made payments to councils for the Local Council Tax Support Administration Subsidy Grant 2022-23. The allocations for this are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/localised-council-tax-support-administration-subsidy-grant-2022-to-2023 . Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council received £248,864.

Regeneration: Loans

Sir Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what conditions are typically linked to a loan issued by the Public Works Loan Board to a local authority to carry out regeneration works.

Sir Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether public support for a regeneration project is required in order for a local authority to be eligible for a loan from the Public Works Loan Board to help fund that project.

Kemi Badenoch: Under the current system, local authorities are responsible for their borrowing and investment decisions as they are best able to understand local needs. Where an authority borrows from the Public Works Loan Board, they must satisfy themselves that all borrowing is affordable and is compliant with HM Treasury’s lending terms and conditions, which do not permit borrowing if the authority intends to make investments primarily for yield. The authority remains accountable to their electorate for individual investment decisions, including those for the purposes of regeneration.Authorities may borrow without prior government consent, except for smaller authorities such as parish and town councils which require the government’s approval to borrow for capital purposes. The government reviews all applications before issuing approval. As part of this process, applicants must satisfy the Department’s assessment criteria, which includes providing evidence that the council has considered local support for the capital plans.

Community Housing Fund: Affordable Housing

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make it his policy to incorporate the Community Housing Fund into the Affordable Homes Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Stuart Andrew: Support for the community led housing sector is already available through the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP), through which groups - or their partner organisations - registered as providers of social housing may apply for capital grant to support affordable housing. In addition, we are considering a range of options through which the Department may support the community-led housing sector.   The Government recognises that the community-led housing sector - which includes community land trusts and housing co-operatives - offers significant untapped potential for helping to meet housing need across England. In addition to helping increase the rate of delivery of new housing, it will help deliver a range of benefits including diversifying the housebuilding sector, improving design and construction quality, developing modern methods of construction and helping sustain local communities and local economies. The support and close involvement of the local community enables the community-led approach to secure planning permission and deliver housing that could not be brought forward through mainstream development.

Community Housing Fund

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the decision set out in a departmental communication to stakeholders dated 11 May 2022 not to renew the Community Housing Fund, if he will make it his policy to continue the pre-development funding that the Community Housing Fund provided, via another channel; and if he will make a statement.

Stuart Andrew: The Government recognises that the community-led housing sector – which includes community land trusts and housing co-operatives – offers significant untapped potential for helping to meet housing need across England. In addition to helping increase the rate of delivery of new housing, it will help deliver a range of benefits including diversifying the housebuilding sector, improving design and construction quality, developing modern methods of construction and helping sustain local communities and local economies. The support and close involvement of the local community enables the community-led approach to secure planning permission and deliver housing that could not be brought forward through mainstream development We are considering a range of options through which the Department may support the community led housing sector.

Buildings: Repairs and Maintenance

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent estimate he has made of the number of developers who have not signed the Government’s building safety repairs pledge.

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what discussions his Department has had with developers who have not yet signed the building safety repairs pledge.

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to help ensure developers who have not yet signed the building safety pledge do so.

Stuart Andrew: 45 of the largest developers have now signed the pledge. The Department is in discussions with further developers that we believe should sign the pledge, and this work will continue. The Secretary of State has made clear that he expects all companies to do the right thing, and that we will pursue those who fail to do so. We intend to establish a Responsible Actors Scheme that will make sure that any companies that fail to do the right thing face significant commercial and reputational consequences. The Department has established a recovery unit that will pursue irresponsible actors through the courts if necessary.

Housing: Construction

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when will he will respond to the Bacon Review into scaling up self-build and custom housebuilding published on 21 August 2021.

Stuart Andrew: The Government welcomes the independent review into scaling up self-build and custom housebuilding and is grateful to the Honourable Member for South Norfolk, and his wider review team, for the detailed and comprehensive work and for their recommendations. We expect to publish the Government's response to the Review shortly.

Buildings: Insulation

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether a developer is responsible for paying for cladding remediation of a building in a case where it was not the building’s developer at the time of its construction but has since acquired the original developer.

Stuart Andrew: Yes, we expect developers to take responsibility for any building developed by any company within their corporate group, including cases where they acquired the original developer of the building.45 of the largest developers have now signed a pledge to:take responsibility for all necessary work to address life-critical, fire-safety defects on buildings 11 metres and over that they had a role in developing or refurbishing; andwithdraw any such buildings from the Building Safety Fund and Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) Fund and reimburse funding received from those funds for such buildings.

Business Premises: Repairs and Maintenance

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to ensure that commercial leaseholders pay their share of the costs of remediation works on buildings for which they hold a commercial lease.

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the proposals on building safety announced on 14 February 2022, what steps he is taking to ensure that those leaseholders who have already paid their allowance towards the non-cladding defects cap are not pursued for further payments.

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he is taking steps to ensure that ongoing cladding remediation works are not delayed in cases where leaseholders cannot afford to pay upfront capital costs.

Stuart Andrew: The Building Safety Act 2022 protects leaseholders in buildings above 11 metres in height or with at least five storeys from costs associated with historical building safety defects. A leaseholder qualifies for the protections if, on 14 February 2022, the property was their principal home, or if they owned no more than three UK properties in total. The protections automatically transfer to future buyers if a lease is sold.Those responsible for historical building safety defects must pay to put them right. That is why, where the building is owned by the developer of the building, or the building owner is linked to the developer, the no costs related to historical defects can be passed to any leaseholders; including commercial leaseholders. If the building owner is not linked to the developer, commercial leaseholders can be charged for their full share of remediation works, as per the terms of their lease.Qualifying leaseholders will be fully protected in law from cladding costs. In addition, the costs for remediation of non-cladding defects and interim measures like waking watches are subject to a firm cap. Once the leaseholder caps have been reached, landlords will be unable to demand further contributions from leaseholders. Landlords will be required to provide detailed evidence to leaseholders that they are entitled to pass on costs. The Government is clear that landlords who attempt to continue charging leaseholders once the caps have been met will be breaking the law and we will not hesitate to use all possible levers to hold rogue actors to account.The Government has agreed with 45 residential property developers that they will fix life-critical fire safety defects, including cladding, in all buildings above 11 metres that they had a role in developing or refurbishing in the past 30 years. Where a responsible developer cannot be identified, grant funding from either the Building Safety Fund or the new 11-18 metre remediation fund will cover the costs of fixing unsafe cladding.

Flats: Repairs and Maintenance

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent estimate he has made of the number of resident management companies based in blocks requiring (a) cladding remediation works and (b) non-cladding remediation works in (i) England and (ii) Birmingham.

Stuart Andrew: The information requested is not held.Information on the number of high-rise (over 18 metres) residential and publicly-owned buildings with ACM cladding systems unlikely to meet Building Regulations is available in the Building Safety Programme data release. Information by local authority is published in Web Table 3 of that release.For high-rise residential buildings with unsafe non-ACM cladding, the Department is continuing to work with building owners to progress applications for the Building Safety Fund at pace so more remedial works can begin as swiftly as possible. Information on registrations to the Building Safety Fund (including by local authority) can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remediation-of-non-acm-buildings#building-safety-fund-registrations-private-sector-and-social-sector.Information on the prevalence of external wall system life-safety fire risk in 11-18m residential buildings in England is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/estimating-the-prevalence-and-costs-of-external-wall-system-life-safety-fire-risk-in-mid-rise-residential-buildings-in-england.

Cabinet Office

Offshore Industry: Taxation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with (a) his Deputy Chief of Staff and (b) Lynton Crosby on the potential merits of a windfall tax on oil and gas company profits; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Ellis: The Prime Minister has regular discussions with Downing Street special advisers on a wide range of issues; Sir Lynton Crosby is not a Government adviser.I would draw the hon. Member’s attention to the oral statement made by my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Thursday 26 May, which announced a £15 billion package of targeted Government support to help households across the UK with the rising cost of living, and includes a temporary Energy Profits Levy on oil and gas firms.

Department for International Trade

Export Credit Guarantees: Iran

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the Answer of 28 April 2022 to Question 157459 on Export Credit Guarantees: Iran, whether the £28.4 million debt owed by Iran to UK Export Finance (UKEF) has (a) been closed or (b) is still being pursued by UKEF following the settlement of the IMS dispute in March 2022.

Mike Freer: The IMS portion of the debt has been closed and will no longer be pursued.

Tradeshow Access Programme

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many businesses were awarded a grant of between £500 and £999 through the Tradeshow Access Programme in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Mike Freer: The following table disaggregates how many businesses were awarded a grant of between £500-£999 in each of the last five financial years (FY) of the Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP). FYNumber of businesses awarded grants between £500-£9992016-17382017-1802018-19382019-20102020-2121Total107  Overall, TAP provided around 12,700 grants between financial years 2016-17 to 2020-21, and the average grant value was £1,720. The programme ceased on 31 March 2021.

Visits Abroad: USA

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how much her Department has spent on (a) flights and (b) hotel accommodation for visits by (i) officials and (ii) Ministers to the United States in the last 12 months.

Penny Mordaunt: The Department for International Trade (DIT) has spent a total of £251,625 on both flights and hotel accommodations from April 2021 to March 2022 for officials and Ministers visiting the United States of America. The figure above relates to all bookings made through DIT’s Travel Management Company. DIT Ministerial travel is published on www.gov.uk -https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dit-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings.

Exports: Government Assistance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will provide details of her Department’s export support programmes providing financial assistance that are available to British businesses; and what the cost of each of those programmes is in the financial year (a) 2022-23 and (b) 2023-24.

Mike Freer: Our refreshed Export Strategy includes financial support for exporters. Launched December 2020, the Internationalisation Fund provides co-investment to high internationalisation growth potential small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), using European Regional Development Funding available until March 2023. Financial support is also available to eligible businesses wishing to attend or exhibit at Tradeshows through the UK Tradeshow Programme pilot operating until March 2023. In the music sector, The Music Export Growth Scheme and International Showcase Fund support independent music SMEs to take steps internationally.Indicative expenditure, subject to internal business planning and HMT approval, in the 22/23 and 23/24 financial years is in the table below:  Indicative spend 22/23 (£)Indicative spend 23/24 (£)Internationalisation Fund30,000,000TBCUK Tradeshow Programme1,250,000TBCMusic Export Growth Scheme500,000500,000International Showcase Fund40,00040,000

Department for International Trade: Staff

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many of her Departmental staff are based in each region of (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland and can advise businesses on exporting to new and existing markets; and if she will make a statement.

Mike Freer: The Department of International Trade (DIT) has teams across the UK supporting businesses to export. In the English Regions, this is primarily delivered through eight contracted regionally located Delivery Partners, comprising c.200 international trade advisors. As of 1st July 2022, this service will be brought into the Department. We are also developing teams of export and investment specialists in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. As of April 2022 DIT has 28 staff in Scotland, 23 staff in Wales and 5 staff in Northern Ireland. We aim to deliver c.275 roles into Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland under the cross-Government Places for Growth programme by 2030. These figures exclude UK Export Finance staff.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

War Memorials

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department will take to ensure that national records of war memorials are accurately maintained.

Julia Lopez: War memorials are an important part of our cultural heritage, and hold a deep emotional resonance with the people of this country. Maintaining an accurate register is integral to making war memorials accessible to all, and ensuring that they benefit future generations as well as our own.The Imperial War Museum (a DCMS-Sponsored Museum and Arm's Length Body of government) manages the War Memorials Register, a comprehensive national register of over 90,000 UK war memorials and the names of the individuals they commemorate. With the help of volunteers and the general public, this register is continually updated and provides an invaluable resource to anyone wishing to learn more about, and commemorate, lives lost to and affected by conflict.Alongside the work of organisations such as The War Memorials Trust this work ensures the wider preservation of the UK’s war memorials.

Telecommunications Cables: Seas and Oceans

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment has she made of the UK's current ability to protect undersea cables.

Julia Lopez: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is the lead department for telecommunications policy, including the security and resilience of telecommunications subsea cables. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is the lead department for the energy sector, including subsea energy cables.Cable operators have arrangements in place to ensure a prompt response to damage or disruption. These arrangements draw upon national and international cable laying and repair companies. The Government works with cable operators, energy infrastructure operators, regulators and others to provide advice and guidance, assess risks and ensure that the appropriate mitigation measures, including the provision of specialist capabilities, are in place to enable an effective response to actual or potentially disruptive incidents.

Channel Four Television: Privatisation

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of privatising Channel 4 on the independent television sector in (a) Alyn and Deeside constituency and (b) the UK.

Julia Lopez: The Government consulted extensively on the future of Channel 4, and the views and evidence gathered from a wide range of stakeholders across the UK has informed the government’s assessment of any potential impact of a change of ownership. The Government published its sale impact analysis on 28 April.Channel 4 has done an excellent job in supporting the UK production sector and thereby delivering on one of its founding purposes. Forty years on, independent production in the UK is now booming, with revenues having grown from £500 million in 1995 to £3 billion in 2019. Companies are increasingly less reliant on Channel 4 for commissions - only 7 per cent of the UK’s independent production sector revenues come from Channel 4 commissions.Channel 4 still has an important part to play in supporting the sector and our wider creative economy. Channel 4 will still be required to commission a minimum volume of programming from independent producers, in line with the quotas placed on other PSBs, and Channel 4’s existing obligations in terms of regional production outside of London and England will also be maintained.Channel 4 has excellent relationships with independent producers right across the UK and there is no reason this should change. The Government expects a new owner to want to build on and develop those relationships.The Government believes that in the long run the UK production ecosystem will benefit from a more sustainable Channel 4. A change of ownership that improves Channel 4’s access to capital could increase spending on production. For example, Channel 5’s overall content budget increased following its acquisition by Viacom in 2014, with first-run spending up by an average of 7% per year between 2014 and 2018.

House of Commons Commission

Members: Conduct

Caroline Lucas: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the potential risks to (a) staff and (b) other hon. Members of Members who are under investigation for serious sexual misconduct not being required to stay away from the Parliamentary Estate and/or constituency offices; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Charles Walker: The House of Commons Commission has not made any such assessment but, when the House authorities are notified of an arrest, a safeguarding concern or certain other investigations relating to serious sexual misconduct, a risk assessment is undertaken. Individual risk assessments are confidential and only shared with those responsible for acting on them.The House of Commons Commission takes the safety of the Parliamentary community very seriously and will consider this matter at its meeting on 13 June.

Members: Conduct

Caroline Lucas: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission has had discussions with (a) the Chair of the Procedure Committee, (b) trade union representatives and (c) the Director of the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme on the potential merits of a mechanism for ordering that a Member should stay away from the Parliamentary Estate and/or constituency offices while under investigation for serious sexual misconduct; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Charles Walker: The House of Commons Commission takes the safety of the Parliamentary community very seriously. The Commission has heard representations from trade union representatives on this matter and will give it further consideration at its meeting on 13 June.

Members: Conduct

Caroline Lucas: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will make it its policy to establish an inquiry into the potential creation of a mechanism for ordering that a Member should stay away from the Parliamentary Estate and/or constituency offices while under investigation for serious sexual misconduct; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Charles Walker: The House of Commons Commission takes the safety of the Parliamentary community very seriously. The Commission has heard representations from trade union representatives on this matter and will give it further consideration at its meeting on 13 June.

Women and Equalities

Equality: Regional Planning and Development

Matt Vickers: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities,  what steps she is taking to help reduce regional inequality.

Kemi Badenoch: This Government’s central mission is to level up the UK and break the link between geography and destiny so that no matter where you live, you have the same life chances. Our landmark Levelling Up White Paper, published in February, sets out how we will address regional disparities across the UK, put more money in the pockets of those who need it most, and transform the UK economy by generating higher paid jobs and new investment.To support this, we are delivering the Equality Data Programme, which is the Government’s biggest and broadest review of the equality challenges we face, including geographic and socio-economic barriers to opportunity.The work of the Social Mobility Commission is also central to the Government’s commitment to levelling up opportunities and ensuring fairness for all. We have bolstered the Commission by recruiting Katharine Birbalsingh as its new Chair and Alun Francis as Deputy Chair, and giving the Commission more leverage to influence other government departments.